News Update – June 2015

The Annerley Branch has written to all Queensland-based national conference delegates, in a lobbying bid over several issues in lead up to the July conference. Included in the correspondence to the delegates were copies of Branch resolutions relating to asylum seeker policy, party reform, retention of the socialist objective, action on climate change, marriage equality and the recognition of the State of Palestine.

The conference, which will be held in Melbourne on the 24 – 26 July, is the highest decision-making body in the Australian Labor Party, setting policies and rules applicable to the entire organisation. The Conference has received a great deal of media attention over the past few weeks with reports that the powerful Right faction will no longer have total control on the floor.

Issues such as party reform, Labor’s much criticised asylum seeker policy, and more definitive action on climate change are expected to dominate the proceedings over the three days. It is also widely tipped that any lack of positive action on these issues will only intensify future grassroots efforts to push for further reform of the Party.

This years annual book drive, providing donations to the Annerley Community Bookshop, was described as another success with a large range of books handed over for sale. The donation is a yearly project organised by the Annerley Branch, with the aim of providing stock to the popular bookshop, which operates a number of community oriented initiatives.

Helping with this years hand over of donations was Federal Member for Moreton, Graham Perrett MP (pictured). Graham used the occasion to thank the ‘not-for-profit’ bookshop for its ongoing efforts in the local area and encouraged people to take the time to have a look at the extensive range of books on offer.

The Annerley Branch has established a long standing relationship with the bookshop over the years, which has included organising a fundraising event and sponsoring their Australian politics section.

Members of the Annerley Branch recently participated in a special “Politics in the Pub” event at the Junction Tavern to discuss growing intolerance in Australian society. Attending as guest speaker was Ali Kadri, president of the Islamic Council of Holland Park, who is well known for speaking out on multicultural issues and was recently appointed to the Queensland Multicultural Community Reference Group.

Participants heard Ali speak about his own personal experiences as a prominent member of the local Islamic community and his views on why the rule of law and the application of justice were the most important factors for a successful, harmonious society.

Ali also spoke about the need for greater engagement with all sectors of society, as marginalising any group of people tended only to alienate them further.

Since the event, Branch members have expressed a desire to take up the challenges posed by Ali, who has called for better political leadership from all sides of politics on the issue of intolerance and alienation.